At least seven people were killed on Saturday after an explosion hit a military-escorted convoy of vehicles on the Maiduguri-Damboa Road in Borno State.
The blast was caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by Boko Haram terrorists along the damaged and largely abandoned road that passes through the dangerous Sambisa forest.
According to Channels news, the convoy was transporting commuters from Damboa to Maiduguri when the explosion occurred, injuring several other passengers.
“The explosion happened so fast. It shook the whole place,” a survivor told newsmen. “We were just moving with the military escort when suddenly, one of the vehicles was hit.”
Though the exact number of injured persons is not yet confirmed, all victims have been taken to a hospital in Maiduguri for urgent treatment.
The Maiduguri-Damboa Road, which connects the capital city to local government areas in southern Borno, has been a high-risk zone for terrorist attacks for many years.
The road remained shut for a long time due to the activities of Boko Haram but was reopened during Governor Babagana Zulum’s administration with a system that allows military convoys to escort passengers twice a week after the area is scanned for explosives.
Despite these measures, Saturday’s attack shows that the threat remains.
Security officials are yet to release an official statement, but sources say investigations are ongoing.
The Nigerian Army and Borno State government have not commented at the time of this report.
